WASHINGTON (February 28, 2002) -- Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, of Beaumont (TX) has been named Bishop Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea in the United Stats of America (AOSUSA), an international Catholic organization which supports seafarers and those in the maritime industry.

The appointment was announced in a recent letter from Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

The Apostleship of the Sea is the ministry of the Catholic Church to all people of the sea: seafarers, maritime personnel, those who work in ports, on oil rigs and on platforms, fisherman, maritime students, retired mariners and their families.

In his capacity as Bishop Promoter, Bishop Guillory will give guidance to the 150 AOSUSA Chaplains who provide for the spiritual needs of the people of the sea in their ports throughout the United States. In addition, he will serve as the liaison with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People.

Bishop Guillory was ordained a Bishop February 19, 1988 for the diocese of Galveston-Houston and was installed as Bishop of Beaumont, Texas on July 27, 2000. He has chaired the bishops' Committee of World Missions and has been a committee member of the African-
American Catholics Committee, the Committee on Hispanic Affairs, the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, Committee on Domestic Policy and the Committee on Migration.

Currently there are three Apostleship of the Sea chaplaincies in Bishop Guillory's diocese at Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur.

For additional information contact Father John A. Jamnicky, National Director, Apostleship of the Sea at 202-541-3226.

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